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Before their departure, however, I had a conversation with Waboose, in which I reminded her of the packet about which she had spoken to me on a memorable occasion in the woods. I may remark here in passing that I had conscientiously held to my promise to Lumley, and had carefully abstained from making the slightest effort to gain the girl's affections, or to show her the state of my own feelings.
Besides, we have not yet discovered the stunted pine, and you know the paper says the spot is difficult to find. As to Liston's mind I feel quite sure that it was all right, and that the man was a good and true one. The father of Waboose could not have been otherwise."
"That red-Indian Hottentot," said I, unable any longer to cause my dear father so much pain, "does not stand in the way, for I am happy to tell you that Miss Waboose and Eve are one and the same person." "Come, come, Punch," returned my parent, testily, "I'm in no humour for jesting. Go away, and let me get to bed and pillow my head on oblivion if possible."
"Max," said he, sitting down on the bed beside me, "I mean to start this afternoon on a visit to the mountain fort. You know I promised Macnab that I would look him up about this time and fetch Waboose and her mother back." "Indeed. When do you start!" "This afternoon." I was not surprised at the suddenness of this announcement. Our chief was eminently a man of action.
"And to think, too," he continued, "that you might have had that adorable young lady, Miss Waboose, who in spite of her heathenish name is the most charming, artless, modest young creature I ever saw. Oh! Punch, Punch, what a consummate idiot you have been."
Of course there is no fear of that, with you and Miss Macnab to look after her, and I have given careful directions to Mr Macnab how to treat her." "You are very kind," replied the girl with much earnestness of tone and manner. "And now, Waboose," I continued, "you remember saying long ago you would show me the packet that "
I could not help laughing at this. "No, Waboose," I replied, as I recharged my gun, "it is by no means usual; but when a man has no other weapon at hand, he is compelled to use his fists. And let me tell you," I added, for I was somewhat nettled by the obvious laugh that nestled in the girl's blue eyes, "let me tell you that we English are pretty good at using our fists."
When there he went looking here and there about the rocks, and found a splendid thing I know not what but Waboose told me it shone and sparkled like the stars. Beside it was a bag of the yellow round things that the pale-faces love so much. He told her he had expected to find these things, but she must not ask him questions just then he would tell her afterwards.
By bringing Waboose here with us we draw Attick along with us away from the pale-faces, and as long as Waboose is in our camp she is safe. Attick dare not harm her." A gleam of intelligence lit up the swarthy features of the old chief as he said "Waugh!" with much satisfaction. But both he and Big Otter were wrong in their calculations. So far, indeed, the latter was right.
Instead of trembling or looking pale, as I might have expected to see her, Waboose looked at me in the most composed manner, and with something on her lip that seemed to me like a smile of amusement. In some confusion, I thanked her for having saved my life. She did not object to the thanks, but replied by asking me if it was the usual practice of white men to attack bears with their fists.
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